Inside the Octagon

In the ongoing UFC antitrust lawsuit, recent developments have unveiled a significant aspect of the sport fighter salaries. Notably, the three biggest stars in UFC history, Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, and Jon Jones, are now in the spotlight for their earnings.

The catalyst behind this revelation is Judge Boulware's unwavering commitment to transparency. He has been pushing for the unsealing of all records related to the UFC antitrust lawsuit, aiming to minimize redaction and expose the truth.

Intrepid journalists at Bloody Elbow accessed unsealed documents, including the "Internal Zuffa Bout Compensation" report by Roger D. Blair. The report covers fighter compensation, including undisclosed payments, side letters, and discretionary bonuses like locker room bonuses.

While the report refrains from directly naming the fighters, it provides clues, including the number of fights each fighter participated in within the UFC at that specific time. Thanks to these clues, Bloody Elbow managed to decipher the identities of the fighters, confirming that they include Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, and Jon Jones.

One startling revelation from this data is that even the sport's biggest stars fall short of the eight-figure compensation mark. Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey, who have been instrumental in the UFC's explosive growth, receive earnings that appear modest when compared to the UFC's significant return on investment (ROI).

A notable example is McGregor's estimation for his fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov, where he anticipated making "around the $50 million mark" based on expected PPV sales. However, subsequent estimates by MMA Fighting's Dave Meltzer suggested that PPV sales were closer to 2.4 million, and both McGregor and Nurmagomedov's base salary for the monumental UFC 229 event was reported to be less than $4 million.

Despite the presence of negotiated PPV points, there is still ample room for the UFC's top athletes to enhance their financial rewards based on their success and contributions to the sport.

As the UFC antitrust lawsuit continues its journey toward a potential trial in early 2024, we can anticipate further developments and potential adjustments by the UFC. These changes could have a significant impact on the landscape of MMA, ultimately benefiting both the athletes and the loyal fans of the sport.